Expansible and collapsible mandrel



July 6, 1954 E. J. LoMAzzo ET AL- EXPANSIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE MANDREL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March l. 1949 ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 5. J. oMAzz'o ET AL A2,682,924

EXPANSIBLE ANDv CLLAPSIBLE MANDREL Original Filed March l, 1949 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1954 EXPANSIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE MANDREL Edmund J. Lomazzo, Norwalk, and Lloyd E.

Maquat, Easton, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Lico Manufacturing Co., Inc., Bridgeport, ,Conn.,.a corporation of Connecticut Original application March 1, 1949, Serial No. 79,047. Divided and this application January 16, 1951, Serial No. 206,158

3 Claims.

l This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mandrels and has particular relation to a mandrel especially adapted for use in gasket, belt or the Ylike cutting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of expansible and collapsible `mandrel which while especially advantageous in -belt and gasket cutting machines is also of general application.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of theinvention is f shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modications as fall within the spirit of `the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through .the mandrel of the invention, the mandrel be- Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken as 1.5,

along the line -4-4 of Fig. 2, but on the scale of Fig. 3; and v Fig.` 5 isasimilarzview taken as along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and on the scale of Fig. 3.

This-.application isA a division of our application Serial Number 79,047 filedMarch l, 194.9 for Gasket Cutter.

VReferring indetail to the drawings, .at AI4 is Shown a mandrel mounting spindle .to be rotated as, for example, disclosed in ourparent .application above identified. This spindle has a lshoulder vI5 toward its outer end. When themandrel is in use on a machine, the outer end lof this spindle will be supported and centered on atailstock center-and the spindle vsupports an .expansible and collapsible mandrel generally designated I1.

Such mandrel is adapted to receive andsupport a piece of Vwork in the form of a relativelyheavy cylinder generally of rubber or of a laminated construction of rubber and cotton or the like. In any event, the material which is supported by the .mandrel will be cylindrical and will include rubber` or rubber-likematerialand is adapted tebecut into rings., gaskets, belts, etc. depending upon the size of the cylinder and the end product desired. As the present application is directed to our mandrel structure per se, the machine for mounting the same and the means for cutting stock on the mandrel are not herein disclosed, although such means are disclosed in our above identified application.

Toward its inner end the spindle I4 includes a substantially cylindrical portion I Ill. The mandrel I1 is mounted on the spindle I4 and it is here noted that this mandrel includes an inner sleeve II9 mounted on the spindle Id to turn therewith and also for limited movement longitudinally thereof. At its inner end, this sleeve lie includes an enlargement or hollow socketlike portion II 8 adapted to slidingly or telescopically receive the enlarged portion IID of the spindle.

Additionally, at its inner ends this sleeve is provided with key receiving recesses or sockets IZEB whereby said sleeve may be coupled in driving relation with asuitable driving means (not shown). At the same time, such inner end of the-sleeve may be externally screw threaded as Aat I 2I, this comprising ypart of a means (not shown) wherebythe sleeve may be further coupled with a driving means. As shown in the present drawings, the sleeve I'I9 is disconnected from any driving means and thus there-is nothing to prevent movement of the mandrel along the spindle I4 outwardly from the enlarged inner diameter portion III) of the latter. Y

In addition to the sleeve II9, the mandrel I'I includes an annular plate or disc I23 having a hub portion at I'24 and integral with such hub portion there is an outwardlyextending reduced diameter externally threaded sleeve I25. One or more elongated pins I26 pass through the hub portion |24 and may slide back and forth in this hub portion. Threaded on the sleeve IZB is a stop device in the form of a collar V|21 and such collar is adapted to be adjusted along the sleeve and to limit the'extent to which the pin `or pins I2 may bepushed outwardly through the hub portion |24.

A nut |28 is clamped on the outer end portion of the spindle I4 in aposition against the outer end of the externally threaded sleeve -I25 whereby such sleeve and the entire mandrel Il are held against movement outwardly longitudinally of the spindle I4. Inward movement of disc |23 along the vspindle isprevented by en# gagement of an internal shoulder of the dise hub with the external shoulder I5 on lthe spindle the dise At suitably spaced points, the sleeve I9 is provided with inner and outer sets of lugs |29 and |33. The number of lugs employed will depend on the number of segments in the mandrel. The lugs of each set are arranged radially about the sleeve I I9 and each lug of the inner set is, measured along the length of the sleeve, aligned with or in the same plane with its corresponding lug in the outer set.

Measured transversely of the sleeve, the alternate lugs of the inner set and the alternate lugs of the outer set are slightly oiset with respect to one another so that transversely the alternate lugs of the outer set of lugs are in slightly dierent planes and the same is true of the lugs of the inner set. It is noted that such an arrangement permits of our making an expansible and collapsible mandrel having an exceptionally large number of segments.

Sets of inner and outer links |3| and |32, all of the same length, are employed and each link |3| at its inner end is secured by means of a pin |33 with a pair of the lugs |29 while each link |32 at its inner end is secured as by a pin |34 with a pair of lugs |30. These pins pivotally attach the inner ends of the links |3| and |32 to the sleeve H9. A series of bars or segments |35 are provided, each having a transversely arcuate outer surface, all bars or segments having their outer surface on an identical arc.

Each bar or segment is also provided with inner and outer sets of lugs |33 and |31 and pins |33 secure the outer ends of links |3| with the lugs |33 while similar pins |39 secure the outer ends of links |32 with lugs |31. With the described construction, it will be seen that the links |3| and |32, the bars or segments |35 are connected with the sleeve ||9 but there may be relative movement between the segments or bars and the sleeve as the links |3| and |32 swing on their pivots or on their pivotal connections with the sleeve and the segments or bars. Toward its outer end, each bar or segment |35 carries a roller |40 and these rollers are adapted to travel in radially extending guide slots |40a in the inner face of the disc |23.

Screws |4| attach tothe outer end of each bar or segment |35 a lug |42 and these lugs are radially arranged and each extends radially inwardly and overlaps the outer face or side of |23. Since rollers |40 bear against the inner surface of the slots |4|la of the disc |23 and the lugs |42 bear against the outer surface of said disc, and these parts are rigid with respect to segments or bars |35, it will be understood that such segments or bars are secured against movements in the directions of their lengths by the disc |23 but may move radially outwardly and inwardly relative to said disc. Thus, the mandrel I1 may be expanded from the collapsed condition of Fig. 1 to the expanded condition of Fig. 2 and from such expanded to such collapsed condition.

Assuming the mandrel to be collapsed as in Fig.,1, a piece of work comprising a cylinder of rubber or of a laminated structure which may include rubber, canvas or the like, is slipped onto the mandrel over its outer end, i` e., its end toward the nut |28. Then, through suitable means (notshown but which may comprise the power means of our above described application) the sleeve ||9 is shifted outwardly as from the position of Fig. 1 to or toward the position of Fig. 2. As the sleeve ||9 is shifted outwardly along the spindle I4, the sets of links 3| and Lll) |32 have a thrust applied to them, which thrust they Vtransmit to the segments or bars |35.

Because of the engagement of the rollers |40 with the inner surface of the plate or disc |23, the segments or bars cannot move in the directions of their lengths and so the thrust applied to them through the links results in their moving outwardly radially with respect to the sleeve H9 or in a direction to increase the effective diameter of the mandrel. As the forward end of the sleeve H9 strikes the inner ends of the pins |26, these pins move outwardly until they engage the stop |21. At this time, the mandrel is expanded to the desired extent. In this connection, it will be apparent that the stop |21 is adjustable along the threads of the portion |25, inwardly and outwardly in the direction of the length of the mandrel and in use, this stop is adjusted or positioned depending upon the work to be handled and the desired or necessary extent of expansion of the mandrel.

After work on the mandrel has been cut into segments, or otherwise completed, it is then \desirable to collapse the mandrel whereby to reduce its effective diameter to permit of the work being more readily removed from the mandrel. In this connection, it will be understood that after a piece of work has been placed on the mandrel, the latter is expanded to forcefully engage with the work and to expand the work slightly or at least to place a tension on it. Generally, there is a cushioning cylinder of rubber or the like about the mandrel and under the work whereby when the work is cut with a knife, the latter is not brought against the metal mandrel on passing through the work. For the purpose of mounting any such cushioning cylinder in the same relation to the segments of the mandrel on re-expansion of the latter following its collapse from a once expanded position with the cushioning sleeve thereon, one of the segments |35 is shown as provided wth a longitudinally extending key |35a.

To ,collapse the mandrel to permit of easier removal of the completed work therefrom, the sleeve ||9 of the mandrel is drawn inwardly moving the inner ends of the sets of links 13| and |32 toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward the positions in which the links are shown in Fig. 1. rIhis inward shifting of the sleeve ||9 may be accomplished in the desired manner as, for example, that particularly disclosed in our parent application above identified.

Such shifting of the sleeve H9 results in a pull being transmitted through the links to the segments or bars |35, but owing to the fact that the lugs |42 are rigid with the forward ends of these bars and that such lugs overlap the outer end or side of the plate |23, the bars can have no longitudinal movement. Therefore, the mentioned pull or draw transmitted through the links |3| and |32 resolves itself into a movement drawing the segments or bars |35 inwardly toward the sleeve ||9 reducing the effective diameter of the mandrel.

At this time, the work or product is removed from the mandrel and a new piece of work mounted on the mandrel and then the latter ex- Danded as rst described above. In this connection it will be understood that so long as the work is of the same size, the stop |21 is left in position and during the expanding of the mandrel, the operator does not have to keep measuring the mandrel or the Work to see if the proper expansion of the mandrel has been obtained. When the sleeve H9 pushes the pins |26 hard against the stop l 27, the mandrel is expanded to the desired extent and cannot be further expanded save on adjustment of the stop. The mandrel may be removed from the spindle H to permit of its replacement by a larger or smaller mandrel simply on removal of the nut |28.

As above suggested, the outer end of the spindie Hl is to beA centered and supported on a tailstock center (not shown). To prevent Wear in the spindle I4, the latter is constructed so as not to bear directly on a tailstock center. Thus, spindle ill is bored in its outer end to receive the stem |57 of a bearing head |58 having a tapered socket |59 in its outer end to receive the cone point of a tailstock center. Should the socket |59 wear, then the head |58 is replaced by withdrawing its stem from the outer end of the spindle I4 and then mounting a new head on the outer end of the spindle.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what We claim is:

l. In an expansible and collapsible mandrel, a spindle, a sleeve supported on said spindle for longitudinal movement thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending segments, a pair of longitudinally aligned radially extending links mounting each said segment upon said sleeve, said links being parallel to each other and pivotally connected at their outer ends to said segment and at their inner ends to said sleeve, a plate ixed to said spindle beyond the outer end of said sleeve and having a longitudinal passage, connection means between the outer ends of said segments and said plate restraining relative longitudinal movement and permitting relative radial movement of said segments, a pin slidable in said passage having its inner end projected inwardly from said plate and longitudinallyv aligned with the outer end of said sleeve, an extension on the outer side of said plate, and a longitudinally adjustable stop member on said extension in the path of outward movement of said pin. Y

2. In an expansible and collapsible mandrel, a spindle, a sleeve supported on said spindle for longitudinal movement thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending segments, a pair of longitudinally aligned radially extending links mounting each said segment upon said sleeve, said links being parallel to eachother and pivotally connected at their outer ends to said segment and at their inner ends to said sleeve, a plate fixed to said spindle beyond the outer end of said sleeve, and connection means between the outer ends of said segments and said plate restraining relative longitudinal movement and permitting relative radial movement of said segments, said connection means including a radially disposed roller carried by each of said segments having rolling engagement with the inner side of said plate.

3. In an expansible and collapsible mandrel, a spindle, a sleeve supported on said spindle for longitudinal movement thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending segments, a pair of longitudinally aligned radially extending -links mounting each said segment upon said sleeve, said links being parallel to each other and pivotally connected at their outer ends to said segments and at their inner ends to said sleeve, a plate xed to said spindle beyond the outer end of said sleeve and having a plurality of radial channels in its inner side, one for each segment, and connection means between the outer ends of said segments and said plate restraining relative longitudinal movement and permitting relative radial movement of said segments, said connection means including a radially disposed roller carried by each of said segments, said rollers having rolling engagement in said respective channels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 390,719 Taylor et al. Oct. 9, 1888 567,658 Rose Sept. 15, 1896 967,175 Y Demorchi Aug. 16, 1910 1,448,528 Elliott Mar. 13, 1923 1,823,959 Steinmayer Sept. 22, 1931 2,202,883 Y, Yoder June 4, 1940 

